The Wcqnfc, — Canadian Stag. 85 



not touch. The pair ate as much in a day as wcukl suffice for two horses. ♦ 

 The horns fall off in February or March, and arc reproduced in four or 

 five months to their full size, and daring' their growth are covered with velvet 

 like those of the common deer. The young are brought forth in May or 

 June, one or tv/o at a birth. 



The Wapite is easily domssticated and it is often to be seen in the 

 parks of the wealtliy, both in Europe and America. As they grow old, 

 however, the males bacome exceedingly pugnacious, and will sometimes in a 

 fit of passion attack their best friends. 



In their wild state, where alone they can be seen in their full size and 

 strength, they are shy and not at all easily approached by the hunter. The 

 herd is led by the oldest and strongest male, and wherever he goes they fol- 

 low. Their senses are acute, and they easily perceive the approach of any 

 human intruder. " The moment the air is tainted by the odour of his enemy, 

 his head is erected with spirit, his ears rapidly thrown in every direction to 

 catch the sounds, and his large dark glitering eye expresses the most eager 

 attention. Soon as the approaching hunter is fairly discovered, the elk 

 bounds along for a few paces, as if trying his strength for flight, stops, turns 

 half round, and scans his pursuer with a steady gaze, then throwing back 

 his lofty horns upon his neck, and projecting his taper nose forwards, he 

 gprings from the ground and advances with a velocity which soon leaves the 

 object of his dread far out of sight. * 



In the Autumn the males are subject to ungovernable passion, roaming 

 to and fro over the plains, and fighting most desperate battles vv'ith each 

 other. Their cry is described as a shrill v/histling, quivering noise, which 

 can be heard at a distance of one mile, and is not very unlike the braying of 

 a jackass. It is prolonged and acute, consisting of the successive sounds • 

 a, 0, u, uttered with such vehemence as to offend the car. V/hile emitting 

 this whistle or cry, they turn their heads upwards and backwards. 



Godman says, the flesh of the elk is highly esteemed by the Indians and 

 hunters as food, and the horns while in their soft state, are also a delicacy ; 

 of their hides a great variety of articles of dress and usefulness are prepared. 

 The solid portion or shaft of the perfect horn is wrought by the Indians into 

 a bow, wliich is highly serviceable from its elasticity as well as succeptible 

 of polish and form. The teeth are much prized by the Indians also to orna- 

 ment their dresses. A " queen's" robe of antelope's skins presented to Mr. 

 AuDUBOx, decorated with the teeth of fifty six elks, was valued at no less 

 than thirty horses. 



"When wounded, it is said this animal fights with great eagerness, appa- 

 rently not only to defend himself, but also to take revenge for the injuries he 

 may have received. 



* See Audubon and Eachman's Quadrupeds of North America, vol. 2, page« 

 00 and 91. 



See Professor S. F. Baird, on the " Kurainating Animals of North America,'* 

 Patent Report, Washington, 1851, Part 2, Agriculture, page 116. 



Godman'a American Natural History, vol. 2, page 111. 



